Collingwood Olive Oil Co. owners Alex Yuen and Cheryl McMenemy are thrilled to be voted #1 in the Specialty Store category of CollingwoodToday’s Reader Favourite awards.
“It’s a meaningful local endorsement, and that’s what we strive for,” says Cheryl. After nearly eleven years in business, she estimates that about 80% of their customers are local, which helps make their business sustainable and less reliant on seasonal tourism.
The couple are passionate about providing quality product to their customers. They are part of a buying group that sources fresh extra virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, and fruit-based aged balsamics that are not typically found in grocery stores. The store’s #1 seller is their Tuscan herb-infused oil, and their best-selling balsamic is their 18-year-old traditional dark balsamic.
Customers have told Cheryl that Collingwood Olive Oil Co. is their go-to place for hostess gifts. The store sells boxed sets and custom baskets, as well as offering gift-wrapping for all their products.
To continue to serve their customers' needs and preferences, the couple is working on overhauling their back pantry area with local offerings, and introducing a "Taste of Ontario" section. Thanks to a government grant from My Main Street funding (FedDev Ontario), they’ve been able to accelerate the changeover.
To prepare for this expansion, Alex and Cheryl have spent extra time exploring Ontario-made products, stocking what they think are the best Ontario-made BBQ sauces, rubs, chutneys, hot sauces, jams, spreads, honeys, and tapenade.
“We’ve done a lot of comparisons, looking at local ingredients, clean nutritional labels, lower sugar content,” said Alex. “And then with all things being equal, it came down to taste— because that’s what our store is about.”
Cheryl says that the store means something different to every customer. “They really love our gift-wrapping, or they love our products, or they love our staff member, Sarah, who’s been here eight years.”
The shopping atmosphere also appeals. A customer recently told Cheryl that he found the store, which is located inside of a historic home, to be relaxing.
“He really liked the store colours and the ambience. We did that on purpose— we wanted people who were visiting Collingwood to feel like they’d gone into some place special. We didn’t want to look urban or like any other store that you’d find in a mall,” she says.
Alex was born and raised in Collingwood, and Cheryl has lived in town since 1999. They say they truly appreciate the recognition and support from those who voted them a Reader Favourite. The community, Cheryl says, is their favourite part of running a small business.
“We enjoy seeing our customers. We see old friends, and have had the chance to make some new friends. For us, it’s very social.”
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This article was sponsored by Collingwood Olive Oil, a 2024 CollingwoodToday Reader Favourite.